Watch the Nation’s First Marijuana Commercial to Air on the Major Networks

I think it’s pretty clear that in this country the tide is definitely turning as it relates to legalizing marijuana. While currently there are only two states which have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes, several other states are now headed in that same direction.

Even on the “medical marijuana” front, states which have been staunch opponents of any form of legalization have opened up to the idea of possibly legalizing it on some levels.

It seems to be pretty clear that full-on national legalization has reached a point where it’s not a matter of if it will become legal, but when. Though there’s still quite a ways to go, especially at the federal level.

Opponents of legalizing marijuana can keep trying to fight against it, but ultimately they’re fighting a losing battle. Colorado and Washington are proving that legalization works, and unless something unexpectedly catastrophic starts happening within those states related to marijuana, they’ll be used as prime examples that legalizing the substance isn’t as bad as stereotypes have perpetuated for years.

Well, proponents for legalizing marijuana are taking another big step, this time to mainstream television. Our nation’s first ever pro-marijuana commercial is set to air on major network television.

Here, take a look:

Though only about a minute long, I think it makes its point. And while it’s not exactly “groundbreaking” information (and only pertains to medical marijuana) it is a big step toward breaking down some of the ignorant stereotypes that have followed marijuana around for years.

Will this ad make a huge difference? No, not really. But I do believe it is a good first step toward other ad campaigns that will slice through some of the misinformation that’s been put out there by people who’ve based their “facts” on marijuana off myths rather than reality.

How long this “fight” will go on is hard to say. But if history tells us anything, it’s that once the ball gets rolling on one of these issues, it usually doesn’t take more than a handful of years before it sweeps across the country.

So while full-on recreational marijuana legalization is still probably years away, ads such as these are clear steps that as a nation we’re definitely headed in that direction.

Allen Clifton is a native Texan who now lives in the Austin area. He has a degree in Political Science from Sam Houston State University. Allen is a co-founder of Forward Progressives and creator of the popular Right Off A Cliff column and Facebook page. Be sure to follow Allen on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to his channel on YouTube as well.